axle Gear Swap - inner Pinion Bearing - Photo 16

If you have a Dana axle that uses shims behind the carrier bearings (many do) instead of shims outside the bearings (GMs and Ford-built axles), hone out a second set of carrier bearings (new or good used) so that the bearings slip on by hand. Do your setup (detailed later), and then press the unhoned bearings on for the final assembly. All of this also applies to the inner pinion bearing too, if you find yourself having to experiment with pinion-depth adjustments.